8 Planes the US Military Is Planning to Scrap

The T-1 Trainer is a medium-range, twin-engine jet trainer used to instruct pilots across the Air Force, Marine Corps, and international services. This aircraft is specifically used for advanced specialized training for those selected to fly airlift or tanker aircraft. With the T-1 being phased out, instructors will turn to the T-6 and new simulation and training gear.

The E-8 Joint Stars is a highly-modified version of Boeing’s 707 civil transport plane that provides electronic and aerial surveillance of the battlefield. Information gathered by the E-8 is relayed to ground control to be assessed. With technology growing by leaps and bounds since the 1990s, the E-8 is aging, and a new generation of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance aircraft will replace it.

The C-130 Hercules has been a staple of the U.S. military since the 1950s, aiding in the transport of troops, vehicles, and more across the world. This transport has filled a wide range of roles, whether in peace or wartime, airdropping supplies to those in need or troops into hostile areas. The Air Force is getting rid of some of the older C-130Hs and is upgrading to the newer iteration, the C-130-J30.

The KC-135 has made a name for itself since the 1950s, when it entered service as a logistical support aircraft capable of in-flight refueling and transportation. Inflight refueling, which was pioneered during the Cold War, allows for a global reach for aircraft. To a degree, this has been a contributing factor to the U.S. Air Force’s dominance, and the KC-135 was the backbone of this.

Despite entering service in the 1970s, the E-3 was first truly tested in the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. The E-3 proved highly effective in eliminating the Iraqi air force and army. However, the E-3 has become difficult to maintain. The Air Force is looking to potentially replace the E-3 with the E-7.

The A-10 Thunderbolt II was originally designed for close-air support, and it proved its value in the Vietnam War and later in Iraq. Eventually, this aircraft would come to be known as the “Warthog” due to its less-than-beautiful outward appearance.

The F-22 was once the pinnacle of air superiority and the most cutting-edge fighter jet on the planet, coming into service in 2005. However, technological issues and cost ineffective upgrades are sidelining this jet for the next generation of fighter jets such as the F-35 Lightning II.

The MQ-9 is a high-level, remotely piloted weapons platform. In other words it is an uncrewed aerial vehicle, or simply a drone. The MQ-9 first entered service in 2007 and proved effective in fighting the War on Terror in both Afghanistan and Iraq. While drones have been controversial, they reduce risk on the battlefield. The Air Force is divesting 100 MQ-9s, but Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said they were being transferred to another government agency without specifying the agency, according to Air & Space Forces Magazine.